NFL rookies proving to be sack artists

While rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder dominate the headlines, two youngsters on the other side of the ball are making a strong first impression, too.

Linebackers Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and Aldon Smith of the 49ers could threaten their franchise marks for rookie sack totals.

Miller, taken No. 2 overall, leads NFL rookies with six sacks and is poised to challenge the Broncos’ mark of 10 set by Mike Croel in 1991.

Smith, the No. 7 choice, has 5 ½ sacks and could make a run at Charles Haley, who posted 12 as a 49ers rookie in 1986. Haley and Dana Stubblefield (10 ½ in 1993) remain the only 49ers rookies to rack up double-digit sack totals since the statistic became official in 1982.

Here’s the scary part: Smith is the youngest player on the 49ers’ roster. And he’s just a baby in football terms. He didn’t play organized sports until he was 15, when his father permitted him to join the Raytown (Mo.) High School football and basketball teams — under the strictest of conditions.

"He had to make good grades. Nothing less than a 3.0 GPA," Thurston Smith told 49ers.com. "And he had to be responsible and respectful."

Aldon got the grades. Opposing quarterbacks aren’t so sure about the "respectful" part. His takedowns this season include Michael Vick, Josh Freeman (twice) and Matthew Stafford (twice).

In all, the 49ers are holding opposing quarterbacks to a 77.7 passer rating, fifth best in the NFL.

"We’re excited with the success we’ve had. But we’ve still got so much more we can do," Smith said during the team’s bye week. "Once we really reach all that, you all are going to see some really excited people, some crazy-excited people."

Miller, meanwhile, has a sack in five consecutive games. He has a shot at the NFL rookie sack record of 14 ½ set by Jevon Kearse in 1999.

"Von is a special player," Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil told reporters. "I’m very thankful to have a guy like that on the opposite side."

—The Raiders blew it by trading for Carson Palmer. So says another former Bengals quarterback, Boomer Esiason, who delivered a blunt assessment on CBS Sports’ "The NFL Today" last weekend.

"In my estimation, this is a coach that’s making decisions above his pay grade, to be honest with you," Esiason said. "This is why general managers general manage and why coaches coach. Coach wants a quarterback. He wants him there now because he knows it’s about self-preservation in this league — having a good quarterback.

"But what he gave up to get him? I’m telling you right now, I don’t believe that Al Davis would have done this deal. This is all about (Raiders coach) Hue Jackson going after a buddy."

Jackson and Palmer were paired previously at USC and in Cincinnati.

—The overmatched Indianapolis Colts (0-7) could face a conundrum next April if they land the No. 1 overall draft pick. Draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck? Or trade the choice for roster depth elsewhere and pray that Peyton Manning makes a full recovery?

"I have to say, I would draft him," analyst Cris Collinsworth said on Showtime’s "Inside the NFL." ”I just don’t think that you could take a chance on missing the next franchise quarterback. You’re talking about an Indianapolis franchise that is going to have issues after Peyton leaves. And if this guy is the next guy, I think you have to take him."

—A tip of the cap to NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders, who delivered the best line on Tim Tebow after the quarterback rallied the Broncos to a comeback victory over Miami:

"If you went with this guy to the fair, you know that little round thing that you throw the ball into? He may never get it through the hole, but he’s going to walk away with all of the stuffed animals."

—In an unusual confluence, the NFL’s best passing offense (New England) goes up against the league’s best passing defense (Pittsburgh) this weekend while the No. 1 rushing offense (Philadelphia) faces the top-ranked rushing defense (Cowboys).

—The Eagles head into their Sunday night game riding a streak of 12 consecutive victories after a bye.

—Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the first player in NFL history to post a 110.0 passer rating in each of his first seven games to start a season. Green Bay is 7-0 for the first time since 1962.

—The Baltimore Ravens are 6-0 against NFC teams at M&T Bank Stadium under coach John Harbaugh. If they get past Arizona on Sunday, the next home game against an NFC foe would be Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers on Thanksgiving Day.

—Pro Bowl fan balloting began last week at NFL.com/probowl. Voting continues until the conclusion of the Steelers-49ers game on "Monday Night Football" on Dec. 19, and the teams will be announced Dec. 27.